Celebrating National Pet Month with Homes for Dogs

Every May, thousands across the country make it a mission to celebrate National Pet Month by “Pawing it Forward” for homeless pets.

Here at Coldwell Banker, we’re strong advocates for lending a hand to man’s best friend. Our Homes for Dogs Project, a partnership with Adopt-a-Pet.com, is aimed at helping adoptable dogs find loving homes. Together, we have helped more than 20,000 dogs find homes – and hope to top that number this year!

In honor of National Pet Month, and to continue the legacy of pet advocacy, we decided to pay homage to the cute balls of fur by letting you in on ways you can Paw It Forward for homeless pets:

Adopt – The best way to help a pet waiting on a forever home is to be that forever home! If you’re looking to welcome a pet into your family, click here to find shelters and rescues near you. Who knows, your best bud may be closer than you think.

Donate – Every bit counts! Many rescues rely on donations to keep their facilities running so gifting a little can go a long way. If you aren’t able to donate financially, you can always donate your time, skills or supplies.

Educate – The best way to end pet homelessness is to help others understand the problem. Sharing articles on social media, writing a letter to the editor of your local paper and volunteering at adoption events are all effective ways to make your voice heard and to spread the message in your community.

Share – Besides being a great way to keep up with family and friends, social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are useful for finding forever homes for adoptable pets. Share an available cat or dog to your social networks to help that pet find a home!

Train – Are you a master at teaching your pup to sit, life down or stay? Share your expertise at a rescue or shelter! Knowing some basic commands can help many dogs to be more adoptable.

Play – Who doesn’t love a little one on one attention? Playing with sheltered cats or dogs will help to socialize them more quickly, making them more likely to find forever homes.

Foster – Not sure you have the time or resources to dedicate to adding a pet to your family permanently? You can foster a pet temporarily until the right forever home is found. It’s a wonderful way to give back as well as an opportunity to see what having a pet is all about before you make a lifetime commitment yourself.

Volunteer – Volunteers are essential to helping shelters and rescues achieve their mission of finding forever homes for pets. They are at the front lines of making a difference – whether they’re interacting with visitors or helping pets become socially interactive and ready for adoption. Remember, just a few hours a month will make a world of difference!

Michelle Quintero is a passionate writer who enjoys documenting and learning about the world through different forms of communication. She is a graduate of San Francisco State University who specialized in Broadcast Communication Arts. Along with her knowledge of broadcasting, she is also specialized in conveying messages through other platforms, such as social media, blogs, and news writing. Michelle has always had a fascination with real estate and is looking forward to writing for Coldwell Banker.